Perhaps no player defined the double championship-winning Liverpool team of the early 1920s more than passionate defender Ephraim Longworth, who captained the Reds and his country with distinction.

Tom Watson reportedly parted with a club record fee to bring Longworth to Merseyside in the summer of 1910 but, no matter what the exact price, the manager was rewarded with almost two decades of playing service.

That spell began with a debut defeat by Sheffield United in September 1910 although nothing could stop Longworth from firmly establishing himself in the Liverpool line-up with his composed football from the back.

He made more than 30 appearances in each of his first five campaigns at Anfield before the outbreak of the First World War forced football to temporarily pause; Longworth was arguably robbed of his peak years in the game.

In an attempt to make up for lost time, though, the Bolton native helped to mould a sturdy backline which could rival any in the club's history and provided the crucial foundation to the successive title triumphs to come.

A contemporary Liverpool Echo tribute to Longworth following a Merseyside derby victory encapsulated his worth and importance: "Longworth was a study in enterprise. He was ceaseless in his work, he was everlasting in his sure punts and he had ideas of marching forward, like a king going forth to war."

The defender actually lost his place in David Ashworth's team briefly during 1921-22 but made 26 league appearances overall to collect a coveted championship winner's medal. He wouldn't have to wait very long for another.

Longworth missed just one match as the Reds defended their title with ease, aided in no small part by a backline which only conceded a remarkable 31 goals along the way.

Nearing his late 30s, the full-back's influence began to wane but he remained in the Liverpool squad until 1928, making his 371st and final appearance for the club in April of that year before concluding a wonderful career.

Appearances: 371Goals: 0Honours with LFC: 2 First Division titles (1921-22, 1922-23)Did you know? Longworth wrote a regular column for the Liverpool Echo during his playing careerWhere is he now? Passed away in 1968